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I. Mirabeau Lamar Becomes President Texans elected Lamar president when Houston’s term ended in 1838. Improving education was Lamar’s main goal, but he had many other goals during term. He becomes known as the “Father of Education in Texas”.

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Congress set aside nearly 18,000 acres of land in each county to support public schools. Lamar also opposed annexation. He wanted Texas to be a powerful nation, reaching to the Pacific Ocean. I. Mirabeau Lamar Becomes President

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II. The Capital Is Moved to Austin 1839 Congress approved Waterloo on the Colorado River as the site of a permanent capital. The new capital was named Austin, in honor of Stephen F. Austin. In Austin, the government built a large, capitol building on Congress Avenue.

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III. Lamar’s Policy Towards the Indians Lamar believed the Cherokees had no fair claim to Texas lands they occupied. 1839: ordered Cherokees removed from Texas. Battle of Neches results. Surviving Cherokees were forced from their land and moved across the Red River out of Texas and into Oklahoma and Arkansas.

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IV. Raids Lead to Council House Fight The Comanches raid several white settlements from 1838-1840 Later, the Comanche leaders agree to meet with Texas authorities. The Comanches promised to bring their Anglo captives, but produced only one girl, Matilda Lockhart (who appeared bruised and beaten). The angered Texans tried to take the Comanches hostage, but they resisted and fighting broke out.

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IV. Raids Lead to Council House Fight This incident was called the Council House Fight. 7 Texans and 35 Comanches died in the fighting. The Council House Fight has been called “the greatest blunder in the history of Texan-Indian relations.” It led to more raids, battles (Plum Creek), and overall more bloody conflict.

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V. Texas Rebuilds Its Navy Lamar ordered a newly restored navy into Mexican waters. He thought Mexico would recognize Texas in exchange for the promise that the navy would not invade Mexico. Mexico still would not recognize Texas. The rebuilding of the Texas navy had raised the debt. Sam Houston won the presidency again in 1841 and recalled the navy.

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VI. The Santa Fe Expedition The Texans wanted control of Santa Fe, a trading center on the upper Rio Grande in present-day New Mexico. 1841: Lamar sent an expedition party to Santa Fe to try to control the region and open up trade for Texas.

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VI. The Santa Fe Expedition The Santa Fe expedition had many misfortunes and hardships; heat, shortages of water and food, and Indian attacks that led to suffering. The expedition was also confronted by a Mexican army that took the Texans captive and forced them to march 1,000 miles to Mexico City where some were later imprisoned.

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VII. Financial Difficulties Lamar’s purchase of navy ships and their maintenance were expensive. The expeditions were also expensive. As a result, Texas paper money called “redbacks” was issued to help reduce the debt. Ultimately, they became worthless and had no value. Texas was deeply in debt when Lamar left office – more than $7 million!